Antiques dealer was bludgeoned to death with ‘axe or machete’ by unknown attacker as she put the bins out
Mum-of-two Robyn Mercer was not discovered for hours as she lay outside her house in the Surrey town of West Molesey
A POPULAR antiques dealer whose body was found on her front lawn may have been bludgeoned to death with an axe or machete as she put her bins out, police have said.
Victim of a "horrific attack on a defenceless woman", Robyn Mercer, was not discovered for hours as the mum-of-two lay outside the family house in the Surrey town of West Molesey.
The reasons behind her death are unknown, and the person or people who killed her have not been caught nearly six months later.
Now, half a year after the 50-year-old's body was found by a neighbour, Surrey Police have taken their appeal to a wider audience - by featuring in last night's Crimewatch.
Two groups of people could hold some of the answers, and police issued an appeal to find a dog walker seen walking along Walton Road on March 13, who may have seen two figures walking towards Robyn's home on the night she was killed.
Both the man walking two dogs and the two people walking in the direction of Abbey Walk were sought by the police, but following the programme's broadcast and a number of phonecalls from the public, the dog walker has been potentially identified.
Surrey Police now say it will focus primarily on identifying the weapon used in the attack.
Detective chief inspector Paul Rymarz appeared on the broadcast speaking with Jeremy Vine and said: "At about 9pm on Sunday March 13, we believe Robyn had gone outside to put something in the bins outside the front of her house having had a family meal.
"Her body was discovered the following morning at about 8am at the end of the driveway by the back gate and the post mortem revealed that she had been hit once on the front of the head and struck several times whilst on the floor.
"We believe the weapon was some sort of axe or machete."
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Detectives ideas on what the murder weapon was has not been revealed since the successful antiques dealer was found dead.
On the day she was found killed her neighbours in the leafy area were shocked, and one even told the local newspaper, the Elmbridge Comet, that his wife had walked past Robyn's house that morning and had not seen anything untoward.
Robyn was originally from South Africa and DCI Rymarz described her as "very well liked".
He added: "[She] had a good social life and was very well respected within the antiques world in London.
"She'd worked for the same family firm for the last 25 years and become close friends with the owners."
Edward Bourdon-Smith, owner of the firm she worked, said: "She's got two lovely children who've lost a mother, and lots of lovely friends who have lost her. She was very important to us all and we've been very upset.
"It will be a very good thing if whoever is responsible is caught for the closure of the family, and for ourselves actually."
At the time of her death her family released a statement which said: "We are all utterly devastated to have lost Robyn. She was a wonderful person, loving mother and devoted friend .
“Thank you to all our friends and family for their love and support.
"We would appreciate privacy at this difficult time.”
Five people are currently on bail in relation to the murder.
A 52-year-old man, who was arrested on suspicion of murder on the same day Robyn's body was found.
Two 26-year-old men arrested on suspicion of murder and suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
A 44-year-old woman and a 20-year woman, both from Oxshott - a nearby town - who were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
A £10,000 Crimestoppers reward is being offered for information which leads to a conviction.
Anyone with information should call 101 quoting Operation Zebu, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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